H-E-B is building another North Texas store

Though H-E-B is opening a new store in the North Texas region, it says it still has no plans to build in Dallas-Fort Worth.

The San Antonio-based grocer announced Monday it will construct a location in Hudson Oaks, roughly 30 minutes west of Fort Worth. To be located at the northeast corner of Highway 180 and Lakeshore Drive, the shop is set to open in 2019.

“The Hudson Oaks community has approached H-E-B about building a store for a number of years. We are excited to fulfill that request for residents and look forward to adding an additional store to our network across North Texas,” Jeff Thomas, senior vice president and general manager for H-E-B’s central region, said in a prepared statement. “This location will not only provide the community with fantastic offerings, but will also bring continued growth opportunities for our H-E-B employees and add operational efficiencies to our North Texas network of stores.”

With its newest location, H-E-B will have eight North Texas locations skirting the DFW metroplex, including stores in Burleson, Granbury, Cleburne, Ennis, Waxahachie, Stephenville and Corsicana.

In an emailed statement to the Dallas Business Journal, H-E-B spokesperson Mabrie Jackson said the grocery company will continue to use its Central Market format for growth inside DFW. The company currently has five Central Markets in the area.

“H-E-B is also aware and thankful for the H-E-B fans in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex that are anxiously awaiting our entry into that market,” Jackson said. “Our interest remains in evaluating the DFW market for the H-E-B format of stores, but there are no current plans to enter at this time.”

It is also converting two former Sun Fresh Markets it acquired in August into Central Market stores. One 42,000-square-foot shop located at Midway Road and Northwest Highway in Dallas is expected to employ 250 workers. Its opening is slated for spring 2018.

Another store at McKinney and Lemmon avenues in Dallas does not have an opening date.